Retail Takeover Targets

It's not just Barnes & Noble: With more than $1 trillion burning a hole in corporate pockets, this year's flurry of deals should continue.

Barnes & Noble announced Monday that it would consider a buyout offer from its chairman, Leonard Riggio (see "Just the First Chapter in a Barnes & Noble Bid?", Feb. 25). The book chain faces slipping sales but carries a beaten-down valuation and generates ample cash—metrics that invite a turnaround effort. It's not the only retailer with takeover appeal.